Mitchell calls for face stomps to be legalised as oblique kick ban debate intensifies

UFC bantamweight Bryce Mitchell has waded into the heated debate over oblique kicks in MMA, firmly opposing any ban on the technique and going a step further by calling for face stomps on grounded opponents — a staple of Japan’s Pride FC era — to be legalised.

Mitchell, known as “Thug Nasty”, made his views clear in an Instagram post and accompanying video, dismissing the proposed oblique kick ban as “really, really stupid” and framing the broader conversation as one that unfairly disadvantages fighters with a grappling-heavy style.

“It’s a completely fair kick; anybody can do it,” Mitchell said. “Yeah, you get your knees hurt. But guess what? It’s a fight… Who cares if you get kicked in your knee? It’s a fight.”

The Arkansas native argued that if any rule change is warranted, it should be the legalisation of stomps rather than the removal of existing techniques. He described the stomp as his single most effective weapon — one he is currently unable to deploy under the Unified Rules of MMA.

“There’s not a more effective move than the stomp; there never has been, there never will be,” Mitchell said. “I would have a lot more finishes if I could stomp a grounded opponent on their face. That’s actually my best move. So every time you see me fight, I don’t even get to use my best move.”

Mitchell’s critique extended beyond the oblique kick discussion. In the caption of his post, he called for the abolition of rounds and weight cuts, arguing the current framework favours striking-based fighters who are reluctant to engage in the clinch or on the ground.

“All the rules favor the boxers who are scared of takedowns and kicks,” he wrote. “These new proposed rule changes are bullsh*t. Let us fight, and if you wanna make changes, take rounds and weight cuts out so we can really get down and see who’s best.”

Oblique kicks — sidekicks directed at the knee of a standing opponent — have drawn renewed scrutiny from fighters, commentators, and fans in recent months, with critics arguing they carry a disproportionate risk of ligament damage. Proponents counter that the technique is a legitimate part of the sport’s striking arsenal and no more dangerous than several other legal moves.

Mitchell’s call to legalise face stomps is unlikely to gain traction with major regulatory bodies in the near term, but his comments reflect a wider frustration among some fighters that rule-makers are moving to restrict the sport rather than preserve its full-contact roots.